The Coward Brothers – The Coward Brothers
The Coward Brothers – The Coward Brothers
Format: CD – Vinyl LP – Digital
Label: New West Records
Release: 2024
Release date: November 22, 2024
T Bone Burnett & Elvis Costello
The exact relationship between Henry (T-Bone Burnett) and Howard Coward (Elvis Costello) remains ambiguous. They often referred to themselves as “One and a Half Brothers,” which might hint at their height difference or imply they were not actually siblings but were involved in an elaborate ruse.
Their musical partnership, known as The Coward Brothers, was initiated by Smiley “Doc” Snipson, who discovered Henry Coward in 1956 and signed him for a UK tour. The brothers’ hit single, “My Baby Just Squeals (You Heel),” was followed by less successful records and a controversial Cold War-themed song. To preserve their fading fame, Snipson orchestrated their supposed death in a plane crash, but they were actually in hiding on a Caribbean island, secretly recording music and sending it back to Snipson.
When their funds ran out, they returned to Miami and made sensational claims about writing famous songs, leading to a brief stint as songwriters for Bill Bogguss. They later resumed recording, but their partnership eventually fractured, leading to years of estrangement.
Their music, from early rock and roll hits to later, more introspective songs, is compiled in the album, The Coward Brothers. After years of silence, their story was explored in a radio program, revealing the complexity of their relationship and their enduring bond. Despite their tumultuous history, their music remains a testament to their unyielding spirit.
Website: https://www.elviscostello.com/news/
Tracks:
01. Always (2:27)
02. Like Licorice (1:58)
03. My Baby Just Squeals (3:08)
04. The Devil’s Wife (4:43)
05. Tipsy Woman (4:27)
06. My Baby Just Purrs (2:32)
07. My Baby Just Whistles (1:50)
08. World Serious (3:00)
09. Early Shirley (2:34)
10. Yesteryear Is Near (1:42)
11. Birkenhead Girl (3:16)
12. Smoke Ring Angel (1:55)
13. Wooden Woman (2:34)
14. Lyndon Johnson (2:24)
15. Lotta Money (4:34)
16. Pure Bubblegum (3:29)
17. Cathy Come Home (3:12)
18. Bygones (1:41)
19. Roll Me Once (2:41)
20. Clown Around Town (3:22)